Cristine Piane’s exquisite botanical watercolors were not just the inspiration for this room, they were the raison d'etre. Shortly after discovering Cristine's work for a client's living room, I was asked to participate in a show house. The original governess's room was turned into a quiet retreat for a woman of taste and refinement.

Everything in this room was chosen to complement the art, and even the gesso color wash used on the walls was derived from watercolor samples mixed by the artist. The carpet, linens, and accessories were all chosen to subtly reflect the art. Window boxes with ivy and flowering plants reinforce the botanical theme.

The use of furniture with austere, simple lines — a Louis Philippe daybed and armoire, a Louis XVI chair, and a Regency plant stand — acts as a counterpoint to all of the flowers.